Benefits of Strength Training for Women

1. Burn More Fat

Researchers at Tufts University found that when overweight women lifted heavy weights twice a week, they lost an average of 14.6 pounds of fat and gained 1.4 pounds of muscle. The control group, women who dieted but didn’t lift weights, lost only 9.2 pounds of fat and gained no muscle. When you do a good weight-training program your metabolism stays elevated and you continue to burn fat for hours afterward. The increase in muscle aids you in burning fat! Having more lean muscle means your body will burn more calories at rest.

2. Changes Your Body Shape

While genetics play a huge role in determining your physique weight training can chisel your physique and give you definition in all the right places.

3. Boost Your Metabolism

The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism. As women age, they lose muscle at increasing rates, especially after the age of 40. Weight training while dieting can help you preserve and rebuild muscle fibers. The more lean mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be and the more calories you’ll burn all day long.

4. Get Stronger and More Confident

Lifting weights increases functional fitness, which makes everyday tasks such as carrying the kids, lifting your groceries and carrying them into the house, and picking up heavy items much easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular weight training can make you 50 percent stronger within 6 months. Being strong can be very empowering. Weight training will boost your self-esteem and confidence.

5. Build Strong Bones

It’s been well documented that women need to do weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass. Just as muscles get stronger and bigger with use, so do bones when they’re made to bear weight. Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age. Bone health gets more and more critical as we age.

6. Improve Mood

The endorphins that are released during aerobic activities are also present during resistance training. Endorphins lift your mood naturally and with better self esteem, your mood will just continue to improve.

7. Improve Sports Fitness

Improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all physical activities. Sportsman or not.

8. Reduce Injuries

Weight lifting improves joint stability and builds stronger ligaments and tendons. Training safely and with proper form can help decrease the likelihood of injuries in your daily life. It can also improve physical function in people with arthritis.

9. Get Heart Healthy

More than 480,000 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number-one killer of women over the age of 25. Most people don’t realize that pumping iron can also keep your heart pumping. Lifting weights increases your “good” (HDL) cholesterol and decreases your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers your blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people who do 30 minutes of weight lifting each week have a 23 percent reduced risk of developing heart disease compared to those who don’t lift weights.

10. Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

In addition to keeping your ticker strong, weight training can improve the way your body processes sugar by as much as 23 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 weeks of strength training can improve glucose metabolism in a way that is comparable to taking medication. The more lean mass you have, the more efficient your body is at removing glucose from the blood.